title: Change in reciprocity as a predictor of depressive symptoms: a prospective cohort study of Finnish women and men.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine gender differences in the association between changes in the balance of give and take in close relationships and depressive symptoms. Data from a 5-year prospective cohort study in Finland (HeSSup Study) (N=18,445) were analyzed. After adjustment for demographic characteristics, recent negative life events, baseline depressive symptoms, hostility, and the supportiveness of social network, a shift of balance toward support receiving was a significant risk factor for future depressive symptoms among women. In contrast, men whose balance of give and take had moved toward support giving had a higher risk of future depressive symptoms than other men. When the analyses were replicated in a sub-cohort of initially non-depressed participants who lived in reciprocal relationships and had no recent life events, the results became even more pronounced among women, although not among men. We conclude that, for women, a shift in their close relationships toward support receiving may lead to increased risk of depressive symptoms, whereas for men a shift toward giving may have a parallel though less evident impact.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise for Work Organizations, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. ari.vaananen@ttl.fi
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Väänänen
authors.forename: Abraham P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Buunk
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivimäki
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vahtera
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskenvuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult